Process and apparatus for providing durable plant tags for horticultural organization

Abstract

A system and method for selecting plants based on climate data and plant data. The system receives climate data and plant data and selects plants for a geographical division based on the climate data and plant data. The system generates durable plant tags with for the plants that have an icon that identifies the lighting level and watering level of the plants using a color and a number.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of making a durable plant tag on a substrate for use in identifying different plant types that grow well together in a same geographic location, the method comprising:
 obtaining a plant type data set for a plurality of plant types; 
 obtaining a location based temperature data set; 
 obtaining a location based precipitation data set; 
 assembling a tag file including a first plant guide number derived from the plant type data set, the temperature data set, and the precipitation data set, the first plant guide number being a numerical value indicative of at least one of temperature requirements and watering requirements for at least one the plurality of plant types; 
 printing the tag file on the substrate; 
 including an electronic data element to the durable plant tag; 
 programming the electronic data element with a unique number representing a first plant type; 
 accessing the unique number; 
 delivering a first set of information associated with the unique number; 
 embedding a second set of information in the first set of information; 
 wherein the second set of information includes information related to at least a second plant type having the same first plant guide number as the first plant type; and, 
 wherein the first plant type and the second plant type are different plant types that grow well together in the same geographic location. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of printing further comprises the step of printing the tag file on a substrate chosen from the group of polyethylene sheet and polyvinylchloride sheet. 
     
     
       3. In a computer system including a server connected to a plastic tag printer, a method of making and using a durable plant tag comprising:
 obtaining, by the server, a location based temperature data set; 
 obtaining, by the server, a location based precipitation data set; 
 identifying, by the server, a plant type; 
 identifying, by the server, a plant location; 
 deriving, by the server, a target temperature based on a comparison of the plant location to the temperature data set; 
 deriving, by the server, a target precipitation based on a comparison of the plant location to the precipitation data set; 
 entering, by the server, the target temperature into a temperature light relationship equation particular to the plant type to derive a light requirement; 
 entering, by the server, the target precipitation into a precipitation water relationship equation particular to the plant type to derive a water requirement; 
 encoding, by the server, the light requirement and the water requirement into a plant guide number; and, 
 printing, by the plastic tag printer, the plantguide number on a durable substrate to make the durable plant tag; 
 wherein the entering the target temperature further comprises entering the target temperature into the equation:
     L ( T )= L   0   e   −λT    
 where L(T) is the light intensity corresponding to the target temperature T for each geographic location, 
 
 L 0  is a light intensity; 
 T is the target temperature; and 
 λ is an exponential decay constant. 
 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 3  further comprising:
 physically attaching the durable plant tag so made to a plant of the plant type. 
 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 3  wherein the entering the target temperature further comprises using a λ of between about 1.3 and about 3.7. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 3  further comprising:
 locating a fertilizer type based on a correlation table of a set of fertilizer types for the plant type and the plant location; and, 
 printing the fertilizer type on the durable substrate to make the durable plant tag. 
 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 3  further comprising:
 providing a location based information table related to the plant type; 
 deriving a target information from the information table based on the plant location; 
 printing the target information on the durable substrate to make the durable plant tag. 
 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 3  further comprising: deriving a graphic code unique to the plant type;
 printing the graphic code on the durable substrate; and, 
 using the graphic code to electronically access information about the plant type. 
 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 3  wherein the system includes a tag encoder, connected to the server, and a user device, the method further comprising the steps of:
 programming, by the tag encoder, an electronic tag with an electronic code unique to the plant type; 
 fixing the electronic tag to the durable plant tag; 
 transmitting, by the user device, a signal to the electronic tag; 
 receiving, by the user device, the electronic code in response to the signal; sending, by the user device, of the electronic code, to the server; and, 
 providing, by the server, a set of information related to the plant type, to the user device, upon receipt of the electronic code. 
 
     
     
       10. In a computer system including a server connected to a plastic tag printer, a method of making and using a durable plant tag comprising:
 obtaining, by the server, a location based temperature data set; 
 obtaining, by the server, a location based precipitation data set; 
 identifying by the server, a plant type: 
 identifying, by the server, a plant location; 
 deriving, by the server, a target temperature based on a comparison of the plant location to the temperature data set; 
 deriving, by the server, a target precipitation based on a comparison of the plant location to the precipitation data set; 
 entering, by the server, the target temperature into a temperature light relationship equation particular to the plant type to derive a light requirement; 
 entering, by the server, the target precipitation into a precipitation water relationship equation particular to the plant type to derive a water requirement; 
 encoding, by the server, the light requirement and the water requirement into a plant guide number; and 
 printing, by the plastic tag printer, the plant guide number on a durable substrate to make the durable plant tag; 
 wherein the entering the target precipitation further comprises entering the target precipitation into the equation:
     W ( R )= W   0   e   −λR    
 where W 0 =a recommended watering level; 
 R=the target precipitation; and, 
 λ=an exponential decay constant. 
 
 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10  wherein the step of entering the target precipitation further comprises using a λ of between about 0.3 and about 1.7.